New Battery for Laptop, Commissioning

Let me help you with the proper credit for the work you published:

How to break in a new laptop battery - The Computer Tutor

Not sure this would be accurate for Li-ion batteries which don't like total discharge.

OP should seek advice for his battery type.

Just use it. Fully charge it if you like before use. Lion are shipped with 30-60% charge to prolong shelf life.

There is a lot of rubbish around about Lithium batteries they essentially don't like heat or being left on charge forever. Otherwise just use it.

As said earlier, most "battery care" instructions are for older types such as NiCad or NiMh. Lion cells do not have "memory".

Although I am not a fan of Sony as a company, as I find often that their products are too expensive and many are "protected" from repair other than from Sony themself (their products with a hard disk inside for example). I believe that their charging rules for a rechargeable battery are to my mind the best.

I have an old Sony Video camera and although it is only used on Battery (whereas Laptops are used on the mains and battery together), the batteries are over 8 years old (I have 4 that last the longest holiday with no mains!), none of them are showing their age.....careful charging is the key I feel.....also quality. ALSO, no charging while powered on!!! Significant I feel.

Firstly, it is fairly widely accepted by some that a modern laptop battery has basically a set number of recharges in it. The number is set by quality of manufacturing, the manufacturer, battery type and the way the user "uses it".

Some people (better informed than myself) believe generally that this number lies probably between 1000 and 2000 cycles......For which a number in the middle (1500), might fit say a laptop battery life if divided by say 3 power "ons" in a working day = 1500/3 = 500 days life. Say 260 days usage in a year = approximately 2 years before its "used up"!

I would NOT recommend a battery from another source other than the laptop manufacturer, as some are cheap Chinese "knock-offs" and could in a worst case condition catch fire...this has even been seen with "Original" batteries a few years ago!!!

You can further reduce the number of possible charge cycles by improper usage.

What is improper usage?

A charge cycle is a power on and a power off of the laptop, no matter how short/long. Naturally with battery inserted.

Leaving the battery in the laptop all the time with mains connected is a big mistake.

Only REALLY good laptops do not overcharge the battery, sorry I cannot tell you which ones, that would take me years of usage/tests and a lot of laptops. See my joke at the end of this post! Overcharging is the worst form of abuse there is for ANY battery or ANY chemistry....even LA car batteries.

Over warm, many laptops get too hot too quickly. This effectively "cooks" the battery (and the rest of the electronics). This is sometimes due to the air vents being partially or fully blocked by being used on a soft surface - bed, knees and the like. My Quad core Toshiba that I use now is the first laptop I have ever had that runs cool ALL THE TIME!!! Probably because it can do all the "work" that I require with 3 cores shut down (only a guess!) and the fan is properly dimensioned, but still quiet. I never get a hot knee, simply never.....Leaving laptop on a table near to the heating or in the sun is also not a good idea, on or off or charging.

My personal method is to ONLY insert and fully charge the battery when I know I am going to be away from the mains. Bad luck if that happens when you do not expect it. Thats life!!

If you are often on aircraft/trains etc., then expect to buy a battery more often than people like me, its part of the deal. Suck it up!!

Such traveling people really need (at least!) two batteries from day one. Not even a month later!! Make a good deal with the Laptop seller.....up front!!

I am of the opinion (only) that two batteries will, if carefully/correctly used will last FAR longer than 2 x 1 Battery.....my guess only is that it will equate to around the normal life (for you and THAT laptop, whatever that is!) of one battery x 3. Sorry, no proof…..just a thought/observation!

By the way, I have never had a problem with inserting/removing a battery while the laptop is switched on the mains, although many feel that it cold be bad!!! I am NOT saying that you do it though, your decision only.

Never leave the battery inserted while working with the mains is the single most important point above all others…..I mentioned it before.

Store the battery in the "low" charge condition when not in use. Not fully charged as many sadly do.

I have several laptops, some are from the 90's, the batteries, when inserted, take a charge and appear to be "normal", but no in depth testing, sorry....so little help for anyone buying new today, with new technology - sadly....

I hope this helps further, but if you don't agree, thats fine, but don't try and take it out on me.....but I have been using Laptops since the first IBM Portable, quite some time (that one did not have a battery by the way and weighed something terrible!!! Probably 20 pounds.....or so.....a so called "Schlaptop", which means a heavy carry in bad German!! (From Schleppen!)

Joke.

A child is offered a sweet (candy) by its Mother, it asks "Mummy, what does it taste like?"

The Mother answers "Suck it and see!"

Which is about where we are with Laptop batteries....."So suck it and see!!"